Projectile pellet



OCU 16, 1956 c. s. MYNES 2,766,692

PROJECTILE PELLET Filed July 14, 1954 7 INVENTOR. EIHCEE 5. MHTLEE WLATTUNEXS.

PRGJECTILE PELLET Clyde Spencer Mynes, Point Pleasant, W. Va. Application July 14, 1954, Serial No. 443,44'4

1 Claim. (Cl. 102-91) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by` or for the Government, for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalties thereon.

This invention relates to a short range anti-personnel pellet projectile. More particularly the invention relates t a short range shrapnel-type anti-personnel projectile made of pellets contained within a shell or matrix fabricated from a suitable frangible material, such as plastic, and of sut`n`cient strength in construction to hold together until iired from a weapon, whereupon it will shatter releasing the pellets with a shrapnel-like effect.

The close range shrapnel-type anti-personnel projectile is of course well known. The projectile is extremely effective in repelling mass attacks by enemy hordes and for discouraging enemy personnel from approaching tanks. The prior art projectile generally is a fixed round comprising a cartridge case filled with a propellent charge for propelling a metal canister filled with steel slugs, balls, cylindrical pellets, etc. The metal canister is constructed and arranged to hold the pelllets en masse until the projectile leaves the muzzle of the weapon, whereupon by one expedient or another, such as, for example, weakened or scored walls, the canister is made to collapse to release the pellets.

The metal canister type projectile, however, provides several objectionable features. Firstly the canister is heavy walled since it must hold the pellets en masse While the canister traverses the bore, hence the ratio of weight of pellets to total weight of projectile is considerably less than if a lighter envelope is used. Secondly since in recoilless weapons the projectile must be pre-engraved to provide the necessary spin plus smooth and effective fire, and to insure the necessary obturation of the propellent gases, the gun tube is subjected to considerable Wear and tear and erosion caused when the projectile traverses the tube.

If a light weight matrix or envelope is utilized, such as, for example, one made of a plastic substance strong enough to hold the pellets en masse until the projectile departs the bore, it is readily evident that the beforementioned defects are obviated. An envelope of this type is considerably lighter, hence the weight of pellets for a comparable size envelope is increased. The matrix subjects the gun tube surface to little or no wear and tear because of its relative softness which permits it to ow into the ritiing of the gun, and for this reason a closer tit, without pre-engraving may be provided between projectileand gun tube, to insure the necessary obturation, as well as provide the required spin and smooth tiring. Additionally a great saving in man hours, machining, labor and material results due to the elimination of the engraved band, and the concomitant pre-engraving and machining.

So also in aircraft anti-personnel weapons the best size of gun for attacking ground troops from the air is considerably smaller than the best size of gun for air combat. Some aircraft in the past have been designed to carry 50 2,766,592 Patented Oct. 16, 1956 ice caliber or 20 mm. guns for air-to-air combat and 30 calib er guns for ground strang. This is obviously an ineiiic1ent use of the space and weight limitation of the aircraft. What is desired is a type of ammunition that can be fired in the large caliber machine guns and yet will divide into a number of small projectiles for use against ground troops.

Accordingly, a primary need compelling the inception of this invention is the desire to provide a short range, anti-personnel pellet projectile constructed of a frangible matrix adapted to be filled with a plurality of suitable shrapnel pellets such as steel balls or the like and in which the matrix is of sulficient strength to resist collapse until the projectile is tired from a Weapon, hence it will then shatter to release the shrapnel as in shot gun type ammunition. The projectile may be used in present guns along with standard type projectiles.

ln the direction last named` an attainment sought is the provision of a canister type close range anti-personnel projectile which is capable of easy assembly in the field ifV necessary, and which is effective to cut down wear, tear and erosion of the gun bore.

It is another important motive to present such a projectle which has a high ratio of weightof slugs to weight of projectile because of the light-ness of the envelope or matrix.

Yet another important aim of this invention is to increase the lethality of an airplane gun against ground troops without any changes in the gun mechanism orY method of handling the ammunition.

Another object in View is to provide a projectile having sufficient structural strength to remain intact until it is tired in a weapon and which will be highly effective in strafing ground personnel because of its shrapnel-like effect.

It is also in mind to provide a projectile having a canister or matrix which is light in weight yet suiiciently strong, though frangible to release slugs or pellets, simple and economical of production, and capable of ready assembly in the field.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof, will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cartridge case having a projectile of the invention contained therein forming a complete round of ammunition,

Figure 2 is a somewhat enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the projectile and a portion of the cartridge case, the matrix of the projectile containing large pellets,

Figure 3 is a similar view illustrating smaller pellets within the matrix,

Figure 4 is a cross section view taken along lines 4 4 of Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows, and,

Figure 5 is a similar View taken along line 5 5 of Figure 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawing wherein the same reference character is used to designate like or corresponding parts throughout the different views, l indicates generally a complete round constructed in accordance with the invention, comprising a cartridge case 2 and a projectile indicated generally at 3. The projectile comprises a cylindrical metal base plug 4 and a matrix 5 fabricated from a frangible material such as plastic, etc., open at one end and closed at the other and forming a cylindrical tube-like member. The open end of the matrix is snugly tted upon a reduced integral portion 6 of plug 4. Base plug 4 is provided with an annular groove 15 to receive the crimped forward end 16 of the cartridge case 2. The matrix 3 being of hollow construction forms a chamber 7 and is provided with a rounded, thickened portion 8 at its forward end. Chamber 7 is filled with a plurality fof suitable shrapnel members such as steel spheres, etc. 9 (see Figures 2 and 4). Small spheres 10 are illustrated in Figures 3 and 6. Alternatively pellets of other suitable sizes and shapes, such as cylindrical slugs randomly packed, may be used.

The round is assembled in the following manner. The matrix is filled with pellets of the desired size and the open end is fitted snugly on the reduced portion 6 of the plug 4. The entire projectile 3 is then fitted into the cartridge case 2 to complete the round, Because of the resiliency of the matrix, it and the pellets may be transported separately, and forced on to the base plug 4 in the eld, if desired.

The matrix is of sufficient strength to hold together under normal handling, yet will shatter as it leaves the muzzle of the weapon, thereby producing a shot-gun or shrapnel effect.

It is apparent that an anti-personnel type projectile has been provided that can be easily and economically manufactured. By using the same caliber projectile as the gun carried by the aircraft, it will not be necessary to carry a second gun for anti-personnel ground strafing. Hence the load of the plane has been naturally reduced by the elimination of a second caliber gun and the carrying spare thereof has been increased.

While a preferred form of the invention has been shown, various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art after a study of the foregoing disclosure. Hence the disclosure should be taken in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense, and it is the desire and intention to reserve all modifications within the scope of the subjoined claim.

I claim:

In a fixed round of ammunition for anti-personnel, a heavy metal cylindrical base member, provided with a forwardly extending reduced portion, and having an annular groove adjacent its forward end thereof, a forwardly extending tubular, plastic matrix member, open only at its rearward end and closed at its forward end by a heavy walled, rounded frontal end forming an integral part of said matrix member, said matrix member being adapted to receive a plurality of metal balls therein, and a cartridge case, having its forward end portion peripherally engaging said base member and being crimped to said annular groove in the base member, said forward end of said cartridge case extending further forward to a distance substantially the length of said reduced portion on said base member to peripherally engage a substantial portion of said matrix member to insure firm securement of said matrix member on said reduced portion of said base member.

References Cited inthe file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 

